PU practicals marks increased to 30 for PCB

There is some good news for students pursuing science in the first and second pre-university course (PUC). Marks for practical examination of physics, chemistry and biology subjects have been increased to 30 and theory examination will be held for 70 marks.

The Department of Pre University Education (DPUE) has, in a notification on its website, announced the change in the examination pattern for PCB from the March 2014 examination.

According to the new pattern, which is in line with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus which is now followed for science students in both first and second PUC, the percentage of marks allotted for theory will be 70, while 30 per cent marks will be allotted for practical examination, Yellappa Dashavantar, Deputy Director (Exams) said.

Earlier the ratio of theory and practical examinations scores was 80:20, and it was reduced last year to 90:10, Mr. Dashavantar said.

According to the blueprint of question papers available on the DPUE website, the weightage given to objectives in the three papers are: 40 per cent for knowledge, 30 per cent for understanding, 15 per cent for application, and 15 per cent for skill.

As for the level of difficulty, the blueprint says 40 per cent questions would be easy, another 40 per cent questions would be of average level of difficulty and 20 per cent would be difficult questions.

For the practical examination, the break up of marks is as follows: 20 marks for doing the experiment, four marks for viva-voce and six marks for practical records.